Ways of working

The High Level group met between February 2011 and June 2012. During that period, the group:

• held eight meetings to analyse relevant facts and developments, and share and interpret knowledge and expertise on main issues such as societal trends affecting literacy, motivation to learn, teaching and learning, and age-specific issues;
• conducted a critical review of existing research and identified gaps in knowledge;
• listened to experts, literacy ambassadors and ordinary citizens; and
• intensively exchanged opinions in-between meetings, highlighting and examining evidence from research and practical experience.

The following organisations and individuals responded to a wide consultation of stakeholders:

• ACEV (Mother Child Education Foundation)
• Alliance for Childhood Education Network Group (Alliance)
• Association de la Fondation Etudiante Pour La Ville (AFEV)
• Association pour l'Enseignement et la Formation des Travailleurs Immigres (AEFTI)
• Prof. W. G. Brozo
• Education Scotland
• Eenvoudig Communiceren, the Netherlands
• European Agency for Development in Special Needs Education (European Agency)
• European Association for the Education of Adults (EAEA)
• European Association of Craft, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (UEAPME)
• European Bureau of Library Information and Documentation (EBLIDA)
• European Magazine Media Association (EMMA)
• European Newspaper Publishers' Association (ENPA)
• European Writers' Council (EWC)
• Federation of European Publishers (FEP)
• Federation of European Literacy Associations (FELA)
• FloraHolland
• Prof. Christine Garbe
• Gemeentelijke of Gemeenschappelijke Gezondheidsdienst (GGD)
• International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement (IEA)
• Landelijke Huisartsen Vereniging (LHV), National Association of General Practitioners, the Netherlands
• Prof. Pirjo Linnakyla
• Lire et ecrire Communauté Française
• Lire et faire lire
• National Agency to Fight Illiteracy, ANLCI, France
• Prof. Ingvar Lundberg
• Prof. Mats Myrberg
• National Adult Literacy Agency (NALA)
• OECD/CERI
• Philips
• Research and Practice in Adult Literacy (RaPAL) Network
• Swedish Centre for Easy-to Read and Easy-to-Read Network
• The London Evening Standard newspaper
• The Social Partners in the Netherlands
• Unesco Institute for Lifelong Learning
• Volunteer Reading Help

Noting the growing importance of reading and writing in an increasingly digital and knowledge-based society, the experts concluded that a holistic approach involving all stakeholders was required to tackle the challenge of low literacy. The High-Level Group made a wide range of recommendations that can be classified geographically (EU, national and regional), as well as by age group (children, youth and adults).

For more information:

• The High-Level Group's final report, which includes its findings and recommendations(5 MB)  
• To find out more